Wheeled Inflatable Toy

ABSTRACT

A wheeled inflatable toy includes an inflatable portion ( 20 ) having a body ( 22 ) with a nozzle ( 28 ) allowing inflation and deflation of the body ( 22 ). The body ( 22 ) includes an underside having an engaging section ( 200 ). The wheeled inflatable body further includes a base ( 30 ) having a plurality of pivotal portions ( 34 ). A wheel ( 38 ) is rotatably coupled to each pivotal portion ( 34 ). The base ( 30 ) further includes a coupling portion ( 36 ) engaged with the engaging section ( 200 ) to couple the inflatable portion ( 20 ) with the base ( 30 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wheeled inflatable toy and, moreparticularly, to a toy including an inflatable body and wheels attachedto an underside of the inflatable body.

Wheeled toys for children generally include a rigid body made of plasticmaterial and having a shape in the form of a vehicle or an animal.Wheels are rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body, so that a user canpush the toy for fun. However, the user may be injured by the sharp edgeof the body. Furthermore, the toy can not float on water. Further, thetoy can not be deflated, leading to an increase in the costs forpackaging and transport and to inconvenient storage.

Thus, a need exists for a wheeled inflatable toy that can float on waterwhile allowing easy storage and reducing costs for packaging andtransport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the fieldof toys by providing, in a preferred form, a wheeled inflatable toyincluding an inflatable portion having a body with a nozzle allowinginflation and deflation of the body. The body includes an undersidehaving an engaging section. The wheeled inflatable body further includesa base having a plurality of pivotal portions. A wheel is rotatablycoupled to each pivotal portion. The base further includes a couplingportion engaged with the engaging section to couple the inflatableportion with the base.

In a most preferred form, the base includes a carrier. The pivotalportions include four arms extending outward from the carrier. Each armhas a distal end on which one of the pivotal portions is formed. Thecoupling portion including four membranes each formed between two of thefour arms adjacent to each other. Each membrane is bonded to theengaging section by high frequency welding.

In another most preferred form, the engaging section of the inflatableportion includes a coupling member, and the coupling portion of the baseis releasably engaged with the coupling member.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a wheeled inflatable toyof a first embodiment according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the wheeled inflatable toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a partial, enlarged, cross sectional view of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 1 according to section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded, perspective view of a wheeled inflatable toyof a second embodiment according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4A shows an enlarged view of a circled portion of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B shows an enlarged view of another circled portion of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the wheeled inflatable toy of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A shows an enlarged view of a portion of the wheeled inflatabletoy of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows a partial, enlarged, cross sectional view of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 5 according to section line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a partial, enlarged, cross sectional view of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 5 according to section line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded, perspective view of a wheeled inflatable toyof a third embodiment according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8A shows an enlarged view of a circled portion of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8B shows an enlarged view of another portion of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows a partial, enlarged, cross sectional view of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a wheeled inflatable toy of a fourthembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the present inventionwith a toy figure received in a groove of the wheeled inflatable toy.

FIG. 11 shows an exploded, perspective view of a wheeled inflatable toyof a fifth embodiment according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the wheeled inflatable toy of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a partial, enlarged, cross sectional view of the wheeledinflatable toy of FIG. 11.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “lower”, “upper”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”,“portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “vertical”, “annular”,“outward”, “inward”, “thickness”, and similar terms are used herein, itshould be understood that these terms have reference only to thestructure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewingthe drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A wheeled inflatable toy of a first embodiment according to thepreferred teachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 ofthe drawings and generally includes an inflatable portion 20 made ofpolyvinylchloride and having a thickness of about 0.2 mm. Inflatableportion 20 includes a body 22 having an outline of an animal, ananimation character, a vehicle, a boat, or any figure. Body 22 in thepreferred form shown has an outline of a toy duck and can be filled withair via a nozzle 28 in the preferred form shown as a one-way valve. Thebody 22 further includes a groove 26 in an outer face thereof forreceiving a doll (FIG. 10) or the like. Furthermore, body 22 includes anengaging section 200 in the preferred form shown as a flat area of anunderside of body 22.

According to the preferred form shown, the wheeled inflatable toyfurther includes a base 30 having a carrier portion 300 and four legs 32extending outward from a perimeter of carrier portion 300 and annularlyspaced from each other. Each leg 32 includes a distal end forming apivotal portion 34 to which a wheel 38 is rotatably mounted. A couplingportion 36 is provided on carrier portion 300. In the most preferredform shown, base 30 is made of polyvinylchloride and has a thicknessabout 2-3 mm. Furthermore, coupling portion 36 includes four membranes361 each attached between two adjacent legs 32. Each membrane 361 isintegrally formed with base 30 by injection molding and has a thicknessabout 0.2 mm. Membranes 361 are in surface contact with engaging section200 of body 22, and high frequency welding is then carried out to bondmembranes 361 with engaging section 200 of body 22. Thus, inflatableportion 20 is securely engaged with carrier portion 300 of base 30.

FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 6, and 7 show a second embodiment modified fromthe first embodiment. In this embodiment, a coupling member 24 isprovided on engaging section 200 of body 22 and includes a cylindricalmember 240 in the most preferred form shown as a hollow cylindrical tubemade of rigid plastic material by injection molding. Cylindrical member240 includes a peripheral wall 245 having two slots 249 and tworesilient tabs 242 each extending radially outward from a side of one ofslots 249 beyond an outer circumference of peripheral wall 245. Eachresilient tab 242, when subjected to radially inward force, can bepressed radially inward into one of slots 249 to be flush with the outercircumference of peripheral wall 245. Peripheral wall 245 furtherincludes two pegs 244 on the outer circumference. After formation ofcylindrical member 240, a flange 246 is formed by injection molding onan end of cylindrical member 240 and made of a material the same as thatof body 22. Flange 246 and the underside of body 22 are bonded togetherby high frequency welding. Furthermore, carrier portion 300 of base 30includes upper and lower sides 301 and 303 spaced in a verticaldirection. Carrier portion 300 further includes a coupling hole 360extending from upper side 301 through lower side 303 and having an innerperiphery with two recesses 362.

In assembly, cylindrical member 240 is extended through coupling hole360. Resilient tabs 242 are pressed radially inward into slots 249 bythe inner periphery of coupling hole 360, such that resilient tabs 242can pass through coupling hole 360. When resilient tabs 242 have passedthrough coupling hole 360 to lower side 303 of carrier portion 300,resilient tabs 242 return to their original positions beyond peripheralwall 245 and abut lower side 303. Thus, carrier portion 300 issandwiched between resilient tabs 242 and engaging section 200. Base 30can not move in a longitudinal direction of cylindrical member 240. Pegs244 are received in recesses 362, preventing relative rotation betweeninflatable portion 20 and base 30. Base 30 can be detached frominflatable portion 20 by pressing resilient tabs 242 into slots 249 andthen moving resilient tabs 242 from lower side 303 to upper side 301.Thus, base 30 can be releasably coupled with various inflatable portions20 having differing outlines.

FIGS. 8, 8A, 8B, and 9 show a third embodiment modified from the secondembodiment. Slots 249 and resilient tabs 242 in the second embodimentare omitted. Furthermore, the outer circumference of peripheral wall 245of cylindrical member 240 of coupling member 24 includes a threadedportion 248. Further, a washer 40 having an outer diameter larger thancoupling hole 360 of carrier portion 300 and having a screw hole 400 isprovided. In assembly, cylindrical member 240 is extended into couplinghole 360 of carrier portion 300 with pegs 244 received in recesses 362.Washer 40 is threadedly engaged around threaded portion 248 andpartially received in coupling hole 360. Thus, carrier portion 300 issandwiched between washer 40 and engaging section 200, preventingmovement of base 300 in the longitudinal direction of cylindrical member240. This embodiment allows rapid detachment and provides enhancedstructural strength.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment modified from the first embodiment.Specifically, body 22 of inflatable portion 20 in this embodiment has anoutline of a toy elephant, and legs 32 of base 30 are modified to havecurved portions corresponding to four legs of the toy elephant. Notethat body 22 of inflatable portion 20 in the second and thirdembodiments can have other outlines, and the shapes of legs 32 of base30 correspond to the outline of body 22.

FIGS. 11-13 show a fifth embodiment according to the preferred teachingsof the present invention. Specifically, body 22 of inflatable portion 20in this embodiment has an outline of a toy goat. Furthermore, body 22includes first and second engaging sections 200 on the undersidethereof. In the most preferred form shown, first engaging section 200 isat a center of the underside of the toy goat body, and second engagingsection 200 is at the underside of the neck of the toy goat. First andsecond coupling members 24 are respectively provided on first and secondengaging sections 200. Each of first and second coupling members 24 isidentical to coupling member 24 of the third embodiment and includes aflange 246 formed on an end thereof by injection molding. Each flange246 is bonded with one of first and second engaging sections 200 by highfrequency welding to attach first and second coupling members 24 to body22. Carrier portion 300 of base 30 has a shape corresponding to theunderside of body 22. Carrier portion 300 further includes a couplingtube 302 at a rear end thereof and a ring 304 at a front end thereof.Furthermore, carrier portion 300 includes first and second couplingportions 36 respectively at a central section thereof and the front endthereof. Each of first and second coupling portions 36 has a couplinghole 360 extending from upper side 301 through lower side 303 and havingan inner periphery with two recesses 362. Further, carrier portion 300includes four pivotal portions 34 on an underside thereof. An axle 380is rotatably extended through a pair of pivotal portions 34. A wheel 38is mounted to each of two ends of each axle 380. A pin 382 is attachedto each end of each axle 380 to prevent wheels 38 from disengaging fromaxles 380 while allowing rotation of wheels 38 relative to pivotalportions 34.

In assembly, body 22 is placed on carrier portion 300 of base 30 withfirst and second engaging portions 200 resting on carrier portion 300.Cylindrical members 240 of first and second coupling members 24 areextended through coupling holes 360 of first and second couplingportions 36. A washer 400 having a screw hole 400 is mounted around andthreadedly engaged with threaded portion 248 of each of first and secondcoupling members 24. Thus, base 30 and inflatable portion 20 arereleasably coupled together. Note that inflatable body 20 is made ofpolyvinylchloride and has a thickness of 0.2-1 mm to enhance thestructural strength of inflatable portion 20, so that the inflatableportion 20 is strong enough to support a child. A handle 306 can becoupled to coupling tube 302, so that a user can grip handle 306 to movethe wheeled inflatable toy forward. A string 308 can be attached to ring304 to allow the user to pull the whole wheeled inflatable toy forward.

In use, the wheeled inflatable toy after inflation can be placed on theground and easily moved due to provision of wheels 38. Alternatively,the wheeled inflatable toy after inflation can float on water with theweight of base 30 providing a balancing effect for inflatable portion 20to reduce rolling and pitching of inflatable portion 20. The air ininflatable portion 20 can be released to reduce the volume for storageand transport, saving the costs for packaging and transport whileallowing convenient storage.

Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have beenexplained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one havingordinary skill in the art. For example, engaging section 200 ofinflatable portion 20 can include one or more male couplers, and base 30can include one or more female couplers engaging with male couplers toengage inflatable portion 20 with base 30. Furthermore, the innerperiphery of coupling hole 360 can include only one recess 362. In thiscase, coupling member 24 can include only one peg 244. Furthermore,peripheral wall 245 of cylindrical member 240 can include only oneresilient tab 242 and only one opening 249.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A wheeled inflatable toy comprising: an inflatable portion (20)including a body (22) having a nozzle (28) allowing inflation anddeflation of the body (22), with the body (22) including an undersidehaving a first engaging section (200); and a base (30) including aplurality of pivotal portions (34), with a wheel (38) rotatably coupledto each of the plurality of pivotal portions (34), with the base (30)further including a first coupling portion (36) engaged with the firstengaging section (200) to couple the inflatable portion (20) with thebase (30).
 2. The wheeled inflatable toy as claimed in claim 1, with thebase (30) including a carrier (300), with the plurality of pivotalportions (34) including four arms (32) extending outward from thecarrier (300), with each of the four arms (32) having a distal end onwhich one of the plurality of pivotal portions (34) is formed, with thefirst coupling portion (36) including four membranes (361) each formedbetween two of the four arms (32) adjacent to each other, and with eachof the four membranes (361) bonded to the first engaging section (200)by high frequency welding.
 3. The wheeled inflatable toy as claimed inclaim 1, with the first engaging section (200) of the inflatable portion(20) including a first coupling member (24), and with the first couplingportion (36) of the base (30) releasably engaged with the first couplingmember (24).
 4. The wheeled inflatable toy as claimed in claim 3, withthe base (30) including a carrier (300) having an upper side (301) and alower side (303) spaced from the upper side (301) in a verticaldirection, with the first coupling portion (36) including a couplinghole (360) extending from the upper side (301) through the lower side(303) of the carrier (300), with the coupling hole (360) including aninner periphery having a recess (362), with the first coupling member(24) including a cylindrical member (240) having a peripheral wall(245), with the peripheral wall (245) including an outer circumferencehaving a peg (244) and a slot (249), with a resilient tab (242)extending radially outward from a side of the slot (249), with theresilient tab (242) pressed inward into the slot (249) and moved fromthe upper side (301) to the lower side (303) of the carrier portion(300) when the cylindrical member (240) is extended through the couplinghole (360), so that the resilient tab (242) abuts the lower side (303)of the carrier portion (300), and with the peg (244) of the firstcoupling member (24) received in the recess (362) of the coupling hole(360) of the first coupling portion (36) to prevent relative rotationbetween the inflatable portion (20) and the base (30).
 5. The wheeledinflatable toy as claimed in claim 3, with the base (30) including acarrier (300) having an upper side (301) and a lower side (303) spacedfrom the upper side (301) in a vertical direction, with the firstcoupling portion (36) including a coupling hole (360) extending from theupper side (301) through the lower side (303) of the carrier (300), withthe coupling hole (360) including an inner periphery having a recess(362), with the first coupling member (24) including a cylindricalmember (240) having a peripheral wall (245), with the peripheral wall(245) including an outer circumference having a peg (244) and a threadedportion (248), with the cylindrical member (240) extended through thecoupling hole (360), with the wheeled inflatable toy further including awasher (40) having a screw hole (400), with the washer (40) having anouter diameter larger than a diameter of the coupling hole (360), withthe screw hole (400) threadedly engaged with the threaded portion (248)of the peripheral wall (245), with the peg (244) of the first couplingmember (24) received in the recess (362) of the coupling hole (360) ofthe first coupling portion (36) to prevent relative rotation between theinflatable portion (20) and the base (30).
 6. The wheeled inflatable toyas claimed in claim 5, with the carrier portion (300) of the base (30)having a shape corresponding to the underside of body (22), with thebody (22) further including a second engaging section (200), and withthe carrier portion (300) of the base (30) further including a secondcoupling member (24) releasably coupled with the second engaging section(200).